A conceptual model for the use of RFID as a means to manage Reusable Articles in a closed-loop supply chain

Reusable articles are physical objects which can be used to either transport other goods, to contain goods or to be used themselves several times in many different sectors in a closed-loop supply chain. At present, due to a lack of visibility, the owner of the reusable articles experiences uncertainty about when, how many and in which condition reusable articles will return. We research how these management issues can be solved by using RFID and focus on three types of reusable articles simultaneously. Our research was motivated by a research paper that identified the reusable articles’ management issues in a closed-loop supply chain. Our reason for doing so is that we observed that previously other researchers focused on strictly one type of reusable article in the context of RFID and, in general, research regarding reusable articles is in an infancy stage. By examining three different types of reusable articles at once we obtain a sounder basis for generalization. We research three different case studies and conduct a cross-case analysis. In each case study we examine possible RFID options to understand how RFID can aid the pool manager in solving the management issues. Also we present cost descriptions to asses RFID profitability. We have observed that RFID technology can indeed help the pool manager deal with management issues, though this requires of the pool manager to analyze incoming and accumulated data.